River Queen Director Sacked

New Zealand director Vincent Ward has been dumped from the troubled film
production RIVER QUEEN after a string of problems besieged the film.

Filming of the movie, set amongst the backdrop of the 1860 Maori wars, was
put on hold in July (04) after OSCAR-nominated actress and lead character
Samantha Morton was admitted to hospital with severe influenza.

When the cast, comprising of Morton, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Rea and
Temuera Morrison, returned at the beginning of this month (OCT04) to resume
filming in the central North Island of the Antipodean country, they were told
Ward - who wrote
the script - will not be returning.

Producers DON REYNOLDS and CHRIS AUTY said in a statement, "Filming will
continue with all the existing cast and crew remaining in place. A further
announcement regarding the production arrangements will be made in due
course.

"We are continuing to film and it will be finished at the end of November
and there won't be any extra funds required. It is still going to be a Vincent
Ward film; it is still his vision."

The drama has besieged with problems since production commended, which
many have linked to a cryptic newspaper notice by a mystery Maori group 'Nga
Rangatira Whaka Kotahi O Aotearoa', warning the cast and crew of impending
disaster.

Last week (19OCT04) castmember CLIFF CURTIS suffered minor injuries after
his car plouged off the road and into the front of a house in Otaki.

And earlier this month (OCT04) a man was rushed to hospital after
suffering injuries from one of the film's horses.